Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, the face behind Tesla and SpaceX, has been ordered to appear in a Philadelphia court this Thursday, facing legal scrutiny over his controversial $1 million-a-day giveaway to voters.
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner has filed a lawsuit alleging Musk’s actions, through his super PAC, may illegally influence the upcoming presidential election.
This high-stakes hearing will take place at 10 a.m. at Philadelphia’s City Hall, led by Judge Angelo Foglietta, who has mandated all parties’ attendance.
The lawsuit claims that Musk’s cash giveaways are aimed at swaying voters as former President Donald Trump goes head-to-head with Vice President Kamala Harris in next week’s election.
Krasner argues that Musk’s donations represent an illegal lottery and a potential threat to election integrity.
In his statement, Krasner stated his role in “protecting the public from public nuisances, unfair trade practices, and interference with election integrity.”
Musk, a die-hard Trump supporter, launched his pledge just two weeks ago, vowing to hand out $1 million each day to voters who sign his PAC’s petition supporting the First and Second Amendments.
This move quickly sparked debate over the legality of such financial incentives during an election.
Experts like Adav Noti, executive director of the Campaign Legal Center, argue that Musk’s approach clearly breaches federal law, while Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro expressed deep concern over the involvement of “dark money” in Pennsylvania politics.
Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press, Shapiro warned of the “real questions” around Musk’s financial contributions and the impact on Pennsylvanians directly.
Musk has actively championed his political cause in Pennsylvania, hosting a town hall on October 17 at Ridley High School, where he passionately called the state a “linchpin” in the upcoming election. “This election will decide the fate of America – and potentially Western civilization,” Musk stated, emphasizing his belief in Pennsylvania’s key role.
With tensions rising and legal experts questioning the ethical boundaries of Musk’s $1 million-a-day pledge, Thursday’s hearing could markan important moment in the 2024 election cycle.
